CHAPTER XXIII
A SERIOUS LOSS
Under a bright blue sky, with the sun shining down almost a littletoo warm for comfort, and with the sea very calm, the voyage thatmeant so much to all of them was begun. They looked back with alittle regret at the small island they were leaving. There, atleast, they knew they would be safe, but unless they desired torisk the chance of staying there many months, they must make thisventure.
"Well, it was a fine little camp," murmured Bob, with a tone ofsorrow in his voice.
"Indeed it was," declared Mr. Tarbill. "I wish I was back therenow."
"Perhaps we all will be," said Captain Spark gravely, "but there isno use discovering a leak in your boat until it's actually there,"which was his way of saying that it was bad luck to cross a bridgeuntil you came to it.
"Now we've got to have some system about this voyage," went on thecommander. "We've got enough provisions and water to last us forthe trip if we are careful of them. We'll not be able to have anybanquets, and I depend upon every one--in which I includemyself--to be sparing of the food and drink. There is no tellingwhat may happen."
"I have a very good appetite since taking this sea voyage,"murmured Mr. Tarbill. "I can't bear to think of being hungry."
"Well, perhaps there'll be no need for it. I only wanted to warnyou. Now I propose to take command of this gig, for it is myproperty, and I'm going to be obeyed, just as if we were on the_Eagle_."
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailors promptly.
"I'll do my best to bring the craft to the larger island as soon aspossible. We'll have to depend somewhat on the wind, for we can'trow all that distance in time to make our provisions last.Fortunately, I have a reliable pocket compass, so I can lay ourcourse fairly accurately. Now, Ned Scudd and Tim Flynn, step themast and hoist the sail and we'll see how our craft behaves undercanvas."
The two sailors soon had the sail hoisted, and under the influenceof a stiff breeze the gig shot rapidly ahead, the oars beingshipped. They had two pairs now, one the spare lot from the gigand the other from the boat Mr. Carr had commanded.
Captain Spark arranged his pocket compass on the stern seat nearthe tiller, and sitting there he directed the course of the smallboat as nearly as he could toward the large island. He and Mr.Carr were to divide the watches of the day and night. There wouldbe four, of six hours each. That is, Captain Spark would be incharge of the boat for six hours, and then Mr. Carr would go onwatch for the same length of time, until it became the captain'sturn again. In this way each one could get sufficient rest.
The two sailors, Bob and Mr. Tarbill were divided between the twoheads of the watch, Bob and Tim Flynn being chosen by the captain.
The food had been carefully stowed away in the lockers, thecaptain's charts, chronometer and sextant were put where he couldeasily get at them, and as they had breakfasted before they set offon their voyage, there was nothing to do for several hours but tomake themselves as comfortable as possible in the boat.
Had it not been for the worry over what might be the outcome, andhad not the dreadful memory of the shipwreck been in all theirminds, they might have enjoyed the sail. As it was, no one feltvery jolly. Mr. Tarbill was particularly miserable, and wascontinually finding fault.
"Oh, dear! It's dreadfully hot!" he exclaimed when they had beensailing for several hours and Bob's Island was out of sight. "I'mafraid I shall be sunstruck."
"Get in the shadow of the sail. Go forward," advised Captain Spark.
"I'm afraid to move for fear I'll slip overboard as Bob did."
"Well, if you do we can see to fish you out. It's daylight now."
"Oh, I'm miserable! I wish I had never come on this trip! I knowI shall never live to see home again!"
"I, too, wish you hadn't come," thought the captain, but he reallyfelt sorry for the nervous man.
Finally it grew so hot that Mr. Tarbill could stand it no longer.He decided he would make his way forward, where he could be in theshade of the sail. The others were very warm also, but they didnot complain. Even Bob, who was not used to roughing it as werethe sailors, stood it bravely, though the hot sun made his headache.
Mr. Tarbill, who was in the stern, near Captain Spark, arose andstarted forward. As he did so a wave, larger than any that theboat had previously encountered, careened the craft a bit.
"Oh, I'm going overboard!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill.
He made a frantic clutch at the air, and really did almost go overthe side, but it was due more to his own awkwardness than toanything else. Then he slipped down into the bottom of the gig,but as he did so his arm shot out and something bright and shiningwas knocked from the after locker over the gunwale into the sea,where it fell with a little splash.
"Now you have done it!" cried the captain, standing up and making avain grab.
"Done it? Done what?" asked Mr. Tarbill.
"You've knocked overboard the only compass we had! How we're goingto find the island now is more than I can tell! This is a seriousloss."